Two House of Lords peers Lord dannat and Lord Evans of Watford suspended after breaking lobbying rules
Two members of the House of Lords, including a former chief of staff, have been suspended from their positions in the upper house after they were found to have exploited their positions for financial gain.
The suspensions followed two independent investigations triggered by a newspaper operation that concluded Lord Dannatt and Lord Evans of Watford had breached the Lords’ code of conduct.
The Independent Standards Commissioner initially recommended sanctions and these were subsequently approved by the Lords’ Conduct Committee.
Lord Dannatt, an independent crossbencher and former chief of staff, received a four-month ban, while his Labor peer Lord Evans of Watford was suspended for five months.
Neither colleague chose to appeal the commissioner’s findings or the recommended restraining orders.
The upper house formally approved the sanctions on Monday.
The investigations were launched in response to comments made by both colleagues while undercover. Guard journalists.
Lord Dannatt ruled that the commissioner had “expressed a clear willingness to provide paid parliamentary services” to reporters, in breach of the rule that members must act with their personal dignity at all times.
Evidence subsequently emerged of three further cases in which Lord Dannatt provided parliamentary services in exchange for payment by contacting ministers and officials on behalf of three separate companies in which he had a financial interest.
Lord Kakkar, chairman of the conduct committee, told Parliament: “Lord Dannatt argued that he was acting in the national interest, but even so that provides no defence.
“The rules are clear that accepting payment in return for providing advice or services to parliament, including holding meetings or promotions or writing to ministers or officials, is prohibited. This applies whatever the member’s motivation.”
He added: “Given the number of breaches uncovered by his investigation, the commissioner concluded that a significant suspension was appropriate.”
Lord Evans allegedly offered “cash in exchange for access” in meetings with journalists posing as potential customers of Affinity, a company owned by his son. Lord Evans held a third of the shares in the firm.
The commissioner said Lord Evans had not acted contrary to his personal dignity when he told journalists that he would be willing to introduce them to members of the House given his financial interests.
It was also revealed that Lord Evans was sponsoring events in the House of Lords on behalf of Affinity and approaching other members to speak to them.
While doing this, he provided parliamentary service to a company for which he had financial incentives.
In addition, the commissioner concluded that Lord Evans had broken the rules at these events because tickets were priced above cost and used to “stimulate” the business of the firm he partly owned.
Lord Kakkar said: “The facilities of the House are provided at public expense to support members’ parliamentary work, not to assist them in achieving financial or material gain.
“All members are required to satisfy themselves and confirm that the rules have been followed if they sponsor events. Lord Evans has failed to do this and his actions have put the reputation of the House at risk.
“We therefore agree with the commissioner that a significant restraining order is necessary and have recommended that he be suspended for five months.”
